Mom Fatally Shot After Dropping Son At School, Shooter 'Fist Bumped' Child's Father After Slaying: Court Docs

DES PLAINES, IL — Following a nearly two-month investigation, a woman has been charged with felony first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a mother, who was dropping her son off at school in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood. Quadajah Johnson, 31, of the 9200 block of W. Senate Drive, Des Plaines, was arrested Wednesday by Chicago police at her home.

According to police, at around 9:06 a.m. Sept. 8, Romeca Blackmon, 31, had just dropped her son off at school on Cermak Road, near State Street, when she got into a fight with Johnson. Police said Johnson pulled out a gun and shot Blackmon in the face. She was rushed to Stroger Hospital, where she died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Johnson appeared in court Thursday and was ordered to remain in the Cook County Jail. Her next court date is scheduled for Dec. 23.

According to a proffer provided to Patch by prosecutors, a witness to the shooting has a 6-month-old baby with Johnson and a 6-year-old child with Blackmon.

In December 2024, prosecutors said the accused shooter had sought a stalking/no contact order against Blackmon, alleging that she had made verbal threats to Johnson through members of her family. Johnson said Blackmon had not committed any acts of violence against her. The order of protection was granted in July, but was never served to Blackmon, according to prosecutors.

On the morning of the slaying, the father of the two children had driven Johnson and their 6-month-old baby to a location in the 20 block of West Cermak in his Mercedes SUV. There, prosecutors say, the father and Johnson had removed the child from the Mercedes and into a Chevy Cruze that belonged to Johnson.

According to prosecutors, at around the same time, Blackmon was driving her Kia sedan to drop off her son, 6, at a school in the 50 block of West Cermak. After dropping him off, she reportedly drove to where the father and Johnson were parked. She double-parked her car and got out, while Johnson stood outside her car, prosecutors outlined.

Prosecutors say a second witness, who police said didn't know any of the people involved in the shooting, drove past the scene, and saw Blackmon and Johnson arguing, but was unable to hear what was being said. This bystander said the father of the children was standing between the two women, arms extended, when Johnson reportedly advanced toward Blackmon.

Several other witnesses told police they saw Blackmon walk toward the driver's side of her car while still arguing with Johnson, where the father of the two children reportedly struck her by repeatedly swinging the driver's door of the Kia on her. One of these witnesses called 911.

Soon thereafter, witnesses said Blackmon got in her car, while Johnson made threats toward her and eventually approached the car. Prosecutors say Blackmon then got out of her car, and when she did, the father of the two children approached her from behind and placed her in a choke hold with his right arm, while striking her with his left. Blackmon, who was unarmed, attempted to break free from his grasp, when witnesses say Johnson made threats to shoot her. The father of the two children told Blackmon that Johnson had a gun, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said Johnson then went to her car, retrieved a handgun, and shot Blackmon multiple times after she was able to break free from the father of the two children. Blackmon collapsed, and her body was moved by the man, according to prosecutors.

A witness called 911, stating that Johnson had shot Blackmon. According to prosecutors, witnesses said the father of the two children and Johnson gave each other a fist bump, while Blackmon lay unresponsive in a pool of blood. Witnesses told police Blackmon had been shot in the face and leg.

The father of the children and Johnson remained at the scene of the shooting, both covered in blood, prosecutors said. Blackmon was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after.

Witnesses identified Johnson as the shooter, and she was detained, and police said she admitted to the shooting. Police recovered a loaded 9mm handgun from Johnson's car, and three 9mm spent shell casings from the scene.

Johnson, who refused medical attention, reportedly told police she had acted in self-defense, and it was the first time she had ever seen the victim in person. Police said Johnson did have a valid FOID card and concealed carry license at the time of the shooting. Her only prior arrest was for a misdemeanor retail theft out of Lake County in 2014, for which she had received supervision.